Obituary for Spalding's Bill Parker, the popular Korean War veteran who recently died aged 91
Local legend, sporting hero, and businessman William (Bill) Parker passed away on February 19 at the age of 91 in Southfield House Care Home surrounded by his family.
Here his daughter Emma Ellis has shared an obituary to her father, using a memoir he wrote for the family.
Bill and his twin brother, John, were born on May 15, 1931 in the newly built police house in Whaplode.
He was the youngest of five children: Geoff, Peter, Eileen and John. His mother, Florence, sadly died when he was 11 months old. His father remarried and a sister, Mary, was born a few years later.
The family moved to Cleethorpes in 1936. Bill remembered his childhood as being quite difficult.
In 1947, aged 16, Bill attended Army Apprentice Training at Arborfield College in Berkshire.
Here he excelled calling it ‘the best years of my young life’. He made head cadet and was awarded the Colonel Commandant’s prize and the Co’s Silver Cup and received his college colours in athletics, boxing and rugby. He also received the coveted ‘best student/cadet for technical education’ an award.
Bill found his new life as a Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineer quite hard after being ‘molly coddled’ at Arborfield. He started his new role in an arms factory in Nottingham.
His promotion and move to Bordon came quickly - as did his posting as a drill instructor in Honiton, Devon.
He later moved to his favourite posting at Turweston airfield, two miles from Silverstone, which suited his newfound love of motorcycle racing.
Over the seasons, he raced at Cadwell Park, Mallory Park, Snettisham and Silverstone. It was here that he was promoted to senior N.C.O, the youngest at that time.
Bill wrote: “Thinking back, it was when I joined Honiton that I volunteered for an overseas tour of duty to get away from that ghastly instructors’ post. Here I am at Turweston, a most excellent posting and guess what….my application was approved! An overseas posting granted, although I was not aware at the time, Korea bound…ah well…that’s life”
At just under 20 years of age, Bill left REME Transit Camp in Berkshire in 1951 to board the HMT Lancashire in Liverpool, and set sail for the Bay of Biscay.
They were told of their destination a week into the journey and disembarked five weeks and 12,500 miles later.
Bill felt incredible excitement. He joined American troops and headed to the newly recaptured capital Seoul where they quartered in a heavily shelled disused school. They worked day and night - sometimes in -40F - on the damaged tanks and gun carriers to make them ready for the front line.
“Day and night deafening heavy artillery constantly pounding the enemy, we went out on patrol to clear the area of enemy guerrillas. Snipers generally. The enemy infantry, particularly the Chinese, were ferocious fighters, despite relatively poor-quality equipment.”
Bill, now a seven-star NCO officer, served in Korea for two years with ten days leave.
On his return to Liverpool, Bill remembered a conversation with a taxi driver who asked if the Korean war was ‘still going on’.
Bill wrote “The forgotten war, aptly named I think.”
On his return Bill was sent to the army’s top academy at Sandhurst, and returned to his love of sport.
A year later he was called for an assessment for the Supreme Head Quarters Allied Powers In Europe (S.H.A.P.E). He was offered a post in Paris where his new boss would be Field Marshall Viscount Montgomery.
Bill thrived in Paris. He loved the city and being a Korean Vet at the tender age of 23 he was well respected – rarely having to buy a drink in the mess!
He threw himself into the extracurricular activities of horse riding in Versailles, flying, martial arts, motorcycling, gaining a black belt first dan in judo, his pilot’s licence and buying his beloved 998cc Vincent HRD.
He trained hard on the track and in the gym and played rugby, on the wing, for the first team.
Bill returned to Holbeach and, with his father at Theological College (later becoming the Rev George Parker at Holbeach Church), helped look after the family.
His first civilian job was at J B Motor Engineers in Holbeach, then on to P B Bettinson of Westlode Street, and Station Garage, Winsover Road before purchasing his own business - Commercial Road Garage - in 1964.
Bill married Pat Markillie in 1961 and moved to Spalding. They had three girls: Rachel, Rebecca and Emma.
He was a founding member of Spalding Judo Club, first based at the Pied Calf.
Bill joined the Spalding Snooker and Billiards league in 1958. He became the first Spalding player to make a century break at both snooker and billiards. He was also the only league player in the first 42 years to have appeared in 24 finals and to have contested a final in all the Open competitions, winning six of the eight Open Championships.
Bill went on to become President of the Spalding and District Snooker and Billiard League in 1986 - until stepping down last year after 36 years.
He also played golf at Surfleet, getting his handicap down to a respectable 12.
In 1975, Bill had an accident at work where he lost his right eye. He had to retrain in all his sporting disciplines. He kept his sense of humour up though often saying: “There were two ‘i’s in William but only one ‘i’ in Bill!”
Bill’s love of horses continued with his daughters riding. Both he and Pat were founder members of Spalding and District Riding Club.
He went on to become a commentator and British Showjumping Association judge at many events including Sandringham Carriagedriving Trials and both Burghley and Belton horse trials.
Bill and the family moved in to Fulney Hall, Holbeach Road in 1979 and spent many years refurbishing the home.
He became chair of the Lincolnshire branch of the British Korean Veterans Association in 2002.
Bill was very proud to be invited to a reception at St James Palace to meet the then-Prince Charles to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Korean Armistice in October 2003.
Bill would often march in the Remembrance Day Parade representing the BKV Association.
He ‘sort of’ retired from working at the garage in his mid-80s, though often popped in to “check on the lads”.
In his later years, he kept himself busy by compiling the family tree, taking it back to 1564, and tinkering with his pride and joy - his gold Rolls Royce Silver Shadow 1.
Bill’s health deteriorated in 2021 so he chose to enter Southfield House nursing home in Woolram Wygate. He loved the staff there and was known to pop into the office to answer the phone!
Bill’s life can be summed up with his favourite quote: “Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming, ‘WOW – what a ride’!”
He leaves three daughters and six grandchildren who will all miss his huge smile and silly sense of humour.
l A funeral service will be held on March 24 at 11am in Holbeach All Saints Church for all family and friends. A private family service will be held at Peterborough Crematorium at 1pm. Donations to Help for Heroes.
